"Gustadji," Baba continued, "is the one who is always in perfect health. He was the one who had no complaints about his health when we were in the West. He likes ice cream and there he had that aplenty, so he was in a good mood, as well. Sometimes he says: 'If you want me to live for 125 years in perfect health, give me a dozen bananas each day.' Baidul likes non-vegetarian dishes, and when he gets them he forgets everything else."
To Aloba, Baba remarked, "Now eat, drink and be merry! From the 15th our Karbala life begins!"1
By this time Anna 104 had arrived.
Baba stated, "I always feel happy to see Anna with his peculiar dress and mannerisms. Anna loves buttermilk, but even more than this, he likes chewing tobacco. When he talks to others with his mouth half-full of tobacco and spit, it is hard to understand what he is mumbling."
Baba then began to discuss some particular work. He instructed Adi to print in English and Hindi seven of his messages about the Fiery Free Life which were to be delivered on the darshan tour.2 After giving some day-to-day instructions to various mandali, Baba discussed with Eruch the important items on the 8 November program.
In the end he remarked, "Allah is the Giver, and the receiver is Bismillah [God the Most Merciful]!"
While discussing matters with the group that morning, a bedbug was discovered in Baba's gaadi mattress. Baba was upset and reprimanded the mandali for not being more careful.
He looked at them reprovingly and snapped in Gujarati, "I am trapped in the hands of these devils!"
During the break for lunch, Baba's seat and mattress were put in the sun and the entire hall swept and cleaned.
In the afternoon Baba stated, "From 15 November I will be out on tour. April end will be the end of me, of you and of all."
Baba talked with the mandali about the forms he had sent with Eruch and Pendu to be filled in by those who were ready to follow him of their own accord. Minoo Kharas was to sort them out later. Baba commented at length:
Until now I had not sent out forms of this kind. Really, I do not expect a paise [cent] if not given with love, even though at present I do not have a single pie. However, today, in spite of being the poorest of the poor, I have resolved to plunge into the Ocean of Divine Fire. Now, even if someone offers me a big sum, I will not accept it.
Footnotes
- 1.Baba was referring to the desolate spot in Iraq, called Karbala, where Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was martyred.
- 2.Ten thousand copies of each message were to be printed and 2,000 copies of all messages in one booklet.